Mail-bag fastening



JOHN C. GARLAND, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

MAIL-BAG FASTENING.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 22,866, dated February 8, 1859.

vTo all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, JOHN C. GARLAND, of Chicago, in the county of Cookand State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement inFastenings fo-r Mail-Bags; and I do hereby declare that the following isa full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had tothe accompanying drawings, forming a part of this speciiication, inwhich- Figure l, is a front view of a mail-bag with my improvementapplied to it. This view shows the fastening in operation. Fig. 2, is asimilar view of the same, showing the fastening out of operation, andFig. 3, is a horizontal section of the invention as in operation.

Similar letters of reference, in each -of the several gures, indicatecorresponding parts.

Before stating my invent-ion, I deem it proper to remark that I am awarethat a sliding mail bag strap, formed of a series of links hingedtogether and furnished with oblong slots, which terminate in circularrecesses, was patented by Alonzo D. Perry in 1848, but for some cause ithas not come into public use, whereas my improvement, which will bepresently described, is highly approved of by the department atWashington and doubtless will be adopted.

The nature of my invention consists in the employment of a slot-tedsliding strap when made of a single steel spring and used in combinationwith a series of narrow stationary iron guides attached to theperforated flap of the bag, and with a steel spring having headed stoppins, fitted between the front portion of the binding and the upper edgeof the mail bag.

By my invention, all the facilities and conveniences aorded for openingand closing the mail bag at the post office, in the invention patentedby Perry, are obtained, and in addition thereto, the advantage derivedfrom a fastening' whose tendency to always remain in operative position,secured, andV yet the capability of the bag folding or contracting-inwidth not at all interfered With, for the spring strap and the springstop plate allow the bag perfect freedom to contract in Width, but insuch a manner that the headed stop pins always occupy a safe relation tothe oblong portions of the slots in the spring strap as soon as thepressure which causes it to change its form is withdrawn, said springplate and spring strap cause the bag to take its original shape and thestop pins to occupy a place at the extremity of the oblong portion ofthe slots, which is not the case with the hinged flexible strap ofPerry, owing to its want of elasticity. My invention is likewise cheaperand more firm and solid in its construction, and in fact is pronouncedby those skilled in postal affairs just the thing so long needed formail bags.

To enable others, skilled in the art, to make and use my invention, Iwill proceed to describe its construction and operation.

A, represents the mail bag; it is of ordinary construction exceptingthat a flat spring B, is secured between its upper front edges and thebinding. This plate serves to give stiness to the mail bag and keepingit extended in proper shape, but does not interfere with its bending andcontracting when its two side edges are pressed toward each other. Thisplate serves also as a holdfast for the round headed or other suitablyshaped stop pins C, C, as shown and thus relieves the leather of allstrain which would cause it to tear out.

. D, is the flap of the mail bag. `This flap is perforated with holes a,a, to allow the heads of the stop pins to pass through it as shown inFig. 3. It also is furnished with a series of narrow iron guides E, E,which are riveted to it, as shown.

F, is the thin steel spring strap. This .strap passes through the guidesand attaches by one end to a curved hasp b, which lits over a staple c,and has its other end (Z, curved or bent so as to pass around the upperside edge of the iap and mail bag, and enter a guide e, as shown. Thecurved hasp and curved end o, render the strap capable of securing theflap at its front and side edges effectually, as will be evident fromthe drawings.

The strap is provided with a series of oblong slots f, f, whichterminate in circular openings g, g, said slots and openingscorresponding to the neck and head of the stop pins. By thus perforatingthe strap, the

head of the stop pins can be readily passed Fig. 2, pulling the strapalong until the necks of the pins strike the termination of the oblongslots and the heads of the bolts overhang the metal forming the sides ofsaid slots as shown in Fig. l. lVhen the strap is thus adjusted and thehasp looked over the staple it is impossible for the bag to be opened,but by simply unlocking the hasp and adjusting it and then slipping thestrap as shown in F ig. 2, the bag oanbe readily opened by simplyraising the flap. The flap by being made of a thin steel spring or stripallows the bag to bend and contract as necessity may require, but asthis spring is used in connection with the spring B, the stop pins insaid spring B, adjust themselves with the strap and spring and thus aliability of the pins getting in line with the round openings g, g, ofthe slots of the straps is avoided and as soon as pressure is removedfrom the sides of the bag, the springs and bag assume their originalposition.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The employment of a slotted sliding strap E, when made of a single steelspring, and used in combination with a series of narrow stationary ironguides E, attached to the perforated flap of the bag, and with a steelspring B, having headed stop pins C, fitted between the front portion ofthe binding and the upper edge of the mail bag, substantially as and forthe purposes set forth.

The above specification of my improvement in mail bags, signed by methis 14th day of January 1859.

JOHN C. GARLAND.

Witnesses:

Gr. YORKE ATLEE, H. H. YOUNG.

